MY CHILDREN DON’T GO TO SCHOOL

Four parents tell us why they chose to educate their children at home, rather than send them to school.

A Margaret

I knew very early on that my children, Caroline, 13, and Edwin, 9, were gifted, but no-one seemed to recognise it at school, I tried state and independent schools. For various reasons we didn’t want our children to go to state schools, and the private ones weren’t worth the deprivation I’d have to go through to afford them.

Because my two are so motivated, it’s really quite easy. I buy the books and the materials they need for the syllabuses and basically just let them get on with it, though obviously I keep an eye on them. From the outset, I left them to choose which bits to study from the syllabuses – I don’t want things to get too regimental. Why make children unhappy by forcing them to do things they don't want to do if they learn as much doing what they like? I’m rather bitter about my own school education; frankly, with some of the lessons I feel I’d have learnt more by just going to the school library.

The children’s number one thing at the moment is computers, though I restrict the Internet to the evenings, as I don’t want them staring at screens for too long. I hope I’m not too pushy with them, though. Sometimes you do worry because they’re often wrestling with adult questions of ethics and philosophy before they’re really old enough, but to be honest I don’t mind if their personalities are rather adult – that’s better than being too childish. Edwin sees his friends regularly and while Caroline’s more self-contained, she’s adamant she’s not lonely.

Because I’m freelance I’ve always been able to work from home and be with the children. I think a lot more people would do this if they didn’t have to go out to work.

B Jane

When we started teaching Helen, we got together with other home educators to share our problems, and would meet every Thursday in the village community centre, taking turns to prepare a topic. These meetings developed into a kind of mini cooperative, almost an alternative school, if you like. But when Helen started exam work at the age of 15, she started to take the initiative in her learning. For instance, she would draw up her own timetable, which was marvellous.

I think the fact that we’ve never had a television has been a big factor in their being so interested in everything and so articulate. My son grumbles about it occasionally, but when you’re not at school there isn’t peer pressure to watch it. That’s not to say my children haven’t got friends - they have! They’re certainly not missing out socially - indeed I think home-educated kids are actually more socially skilled, because they spend so much time watching adults.

Helen is now 16 and has just started at St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh. We were never seriously tempted to change to mainstream schooling until Helen decided she wanted to take her music seriously. I was a bit nervous - who wouldn’t be, sending their child 400 miles away at 15 - but when children are old enough to make a reasoned decision you have to trust their judgement.

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